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The National Assembly

The legislative power of the Republic is vested in the National Assembly, as constituted primarily by Articles V, IX, and X of the Constitution. It is comprised by the Senate and the Chamber of Delegates, both elected from the same national electoral districts.

The primary powers and duties of the National Assembly concern…

1. The enactment, amendment, and annulment of the Law;

2. The formation of domestic policy;

3. The raising and expending of public revenue; and

4. The oversight of all the other governmental branches, agencies, bureaus, organs, et cetera.

The precise number of legislators, precise number of electoral districts, and precise delimitation of those districts are fixed and modified from time to time by statute, subject to various constitutional restrictions. However, any promulgated changes thereto affect only subsequent terms, and not the terms of the legislators already serving.

Business of the National Assembly is organized according to annual terms, known as sessions, that correspond roughly with the terms of legislators. Sessions commence on or around September 3rd and end regardless on or before September 2nd, from year to year; and throughout each session, the National Assembly convenes, also known as sitting or holding a sitting, 10 or 12 times on average. Bills, appointments, and other business pending at the end of one session expire (or ‘die’) upon the start of the next session, and must be reintroduced then de novo.

The motto of the National Assembly, inscribed on its seal, is Ob Salutem Reipublicæ, meaning “For the Good of the Republic”.

The Senate

Each national electoral district elects exactly one Senator every six years, regardless of the population size from district to district, using the instant-runoff method. The Senators’ terms are then staggered, such that one third of the Senate faces reelection every two years. Senators must be 25 years old, live in their districts, and have been a Silofaisan citizen at least for five years.

After each general election of the Senate at least (in other words, every other year), the Senators choose their presiding officer and his substitute, known respectively as the Marshal and Vice-Marshal. The former is second in line to assume the office of the President temporarily in times of national crisis or emergency.

The Senate is institutionally equal in nearly all manners with the Chamber of Delegates; for example, no bill may become law without its certain consent, and the lower house may not override the Senate in joint matters. However, the Senate is constitutionally reserved with the power to:

1. Advise the President and give (or deny) its consent on international treaties;

2. Give or deny its consent on presidential clemency in cases of treason or amnesty; and

3. Try impeachments passed by the Delegates.

Everything before notwithstanding, pursuant to Articles XXIX and XXX of the Constitution, the Senate currently lies in abeyance and will come into force only once there are thirty citizens of Silofais. The soonest election of the Senate would occur in 2020.

If brought into force before 2030, Senators would be elected for terms of three years without staggering, then altogether in 2030, and finally for staggered terms of six years thereafter. If brought into force during or after 2030, then they will be elected with staggering for terms of six years, with one third being chosen in even-numbered years.

Between the years 2020 and 2030, Senators may be 18 years old (instead of 25).

The Chamber of Delegates

Every three years, each national electoral district elects such a number of Delegates as has been apportioned to it according to its respective population size, though no fewer than three Delegates nor more than seven. The entirety of the Chamber is elected altogether without staggering, according to the single transferable vote method. Delegates must be 21 years old, live in their districts, and have been a Silofaisan citizen at least for three years.

After each general election of the Chamber at least (in other words, every three years), the Delegates choose their presiding officer and his substitute, known respectively as the Speaker and the Speaker Pro Tempore. The former is first in line to assume the office of the President temporarily in times of national crisis or emergency.

The Chamber of Delegates is institutionally equal in nearly all manners with the Senate, with some exceptions. Namely, the Delegates reserve the power to…

1. Advise the President and give (or deny) its consent on the appointments of Court judges, admirals and generals of the military, and ambassadors and other envoys and consuls of the Republic;

2. Pass or fail resolutions of confidence, or in other words dismiss the Cabinet; and

3. Impeach non-legislative officials of the national government, including the President. (Legislators can simply be expelled.)

Between the years 2020 and 2030, Delegates will be elected annually and may be 15 years old (instead of 21).